TV boss in court
football battle

Woodcutter pub

A SKY television executive has given evidence in a landmark court case against a Motherwell pub accused of illegally screening English Premier League football matches.

The satellite broadcasting giant is locked in a long-running legal battle to stop games being shown by licensees using cheap foreign packages.

The issue has already gone to the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg, with an English pub landlady winning the right to use a cheaper provider.

Last week John Gorman, licensee of Motherwell’s Woodcutter pub, and premises manager Donald Young went on trial at Hamilton Sheriff Court accused of dishonestly receiving pictures of Premier League games with intent to avoid payment.

Mr Gorman (72) and Mr Young (53) deny committing any offence by screening the games.

The court heard they had a £250 a month deal with a company which obtains pictures from Albania.

Had they opted for a Sky package they would have had to pay four times as much.